The New York Times is reporting Mattel and other toymakers are marketing girls' toys to fathers, many of
whom are doing the holiday shopping these days. In fact, for the first time in
Barbie's 50-year history, Mattel has introduced a Barbie construction set.

This new
marketing scheme reflects not only that dads are shopping as much as if not
more than moms, but that parents want their girls to develop their spatial
skills, which would ultimately help them compete with boys for careers in math,
science, engineering, and technology jobs.

But have no
fear, traditionalists. The sets made by Megablocks are pink, and the
construction choices include fashion boutiques, mansions, and ice cream carts.